Redden a breakout candidate: Richardson

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He's a massive man, unfortunately he's one of those guys that just hasn't been able to get out there but he's had a bit more luck this pre-season

Alan Richardson, Port Adelaide senior assistant coach

Port Adelaide senior assistant Alan Richardson likens the potential of young ruckman Jarrad Redden to that of cross-town big man Sam Jacobs and tips the 22-year-old to break out this season.

Jacobs was arguably the AFL's most improved player in 2012 and became one of the best ruckmen in the competition, narrowly missing All Australian selection.

At 205cm and 101kg, Richardson believes Redden has the physical attributes to enforce himself on contests in the AFL but that injury hasn't allowed him to develop the consistency needed at the highest level.

Despite the setbacks, Redden has shown glimpses of his talent gathering 29 hit-outs against Richmond in round 23 last year following an impressive debut against St Kilda in round one.

After a much-improved pre-season the Power's hopes are high that Redden can become a regular performer in 2013.

"He's a massive man, once again unfortunately he's one of those guys that just hasn't been able to get out there but he's had a bit more luck this pre-season, in fact up until Christmas he hadn't missed a beat," Richardson said.

"He's had a couple of niggles since then, but he has the potential, not unlike the way Sam Jacobs developed for Adelaide.

"Jacobs didn't quite get an opportunity at Carlton and then when finally given his chance (at West Lakes) he really blossomed last year.

"I think 'Reddo' has the potential to follow a similar path."

Richardson said he was impressed by the ruckman's character, when he played well in the exhbition game against the Western Bulldogs in London, despite carrying an injury.

"Reddo had given his calf a bit of a tweak just prior to our game against the Bulldogs, so he went in clearly incapacitated and just performed really well," he said.

Richardson praised young defender Jasper Pittard who he predicted would be a "very significant performer for us", and predicted hard-bodied midfielder Andrew Moore would take his game to a new level in 2013.

At pick no. 9 at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, Moore was the second of three first-round draftees the Power selected, with forward John Butcher taken at no. 8 and Pittard at no. 16.

"Moore is a really good example of someone we perhaps haven't seen the best out of, he's one of those players who's just had no luck with his body." Richardson said.

"When he's been out on the track, which has been more often than not thank goodness this summer, he's been really impressive.

"If he gets the sort of luck we're hoping for and can start to develop some durability, then I've got no doubt he's going to be a really impressive player in terms of a high echelon midfield."

Jarrad Redden in a $305,700 ruckman in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 59 points in 2012.

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.